Football nurseries mark Europe Day

Children from 27 football nurseries participated in a non-competitive football tournament at the Luxol Grounds, in Pembroke, held on Saturday and yesterday as part of Europe Day celebrations. Each nursery participated with 14 boys wearing football shirts from the EU's 27 member states. Children and young people are the main focus of a series of activities being held to celebrate Europe Day, which are also being seen as a continuation of the 50th anniversary since the signing of the Treaty of Rome held in March.

"It was very often through sports and, in particular, through football that many of us first got to know the flags, geography and even some history of our neighbouring European states. By bringing together 27 football nurseries representing the national teams of each member state we wanted to do the same for Malta's under-12s," said Julian Vassallo, head of the European Parliament information office in Valletta, which organised and financed the event together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.